Jobs in Sunderland | Pictures of Sunderland

Sunderland is quite simply a city on the move. Desperate to shake of the shackles of being regarded as a deprived area and constantly in the shadow of its Tyneside neighbour, Sunderland has embarked on a significant programme of redevelopment that is transforming it into a modern, forward-thinking city that is doing much to boost the North East's appeal as a place in which to live and work.

Getting around Sunderland
Sunderland is one of those rarities when it comes to commuting: it's a rather stress-free experience, thanks largely to the newly opened Southern Radial Route which has relieved much of the congestion that plagued commuters in the morning rush-hour. With direct access to the A19 which runs north-to-south along the western edge of the town and the A1M, Sunderland is easily accessible by road.

The Tyne and Wear Metro – the rapid transit system - now extends to Sunderland, directly linking the city with Newcastle 13 miles up the road and incorporating nearby Seaburn, Millfield, Pallion, as well as Sunderland's mainline railway station. However, the service is limited to five trains per hour to Park Lane , with three or four trains terminating in South Hylton .

And for those of you who prefer to cycle into work, there are a number of cycle routes that run through and around Sunderland . The National Cycle Network National Route 1 runs from Ryhope in the south of the town, through the centre and then along the coast towards South Shields . The 'W2W' 'Wear-to-Walney' route, and the 'Two-Rivers' (the Tyne and the Wear) route also terminate in Sunderland .

Eating, drinking and shopping in Sunderland
Serious gastronomes may find Sunderland a bit of a let-down when it comes to the number of restaurants in the area. Bearing in mind that until recently Sunderland was classed as one of the most deprived areas in the country, it will take a little time before its culinary offering comes to the fore. That said, the significant regeneration that is taking place in the town features a strong food element and within the next few years, there will be a wider choice of restaurants sooner rather than later. In the meantime, Sunderland can offer something that will appeal to most taste buds.

Head to the area around Vine Place for the best choice of eateries, cafes and restaurants serving everything from traditional pub grub to Italian, Chinese and Indian. And if you fancy having a wee jar or two to wash your food down, then stay where you area because all the pubs and bars are right here on your doorstep.

Sunderland may not be as big as its Geordie neighbour but Makem's (people from Sunderland) can more than hold their own when it comes to knowing how to enjoy themselves. Thankfully, most pubs and clubs are centrally located which is perfect for a swift half at lunchtime and even better for a night out. And it's at night that the town really comes alive.

Vine Place, Low Row and High Street West are where you will find the pick of the best bars and pubs, whether it be a place to read the paper over a quiet pint at lunch time or one of the livelier, modern bars that seem to be popping up as if there was no tomorrow, with even more choice being offered as a result of the regeneration of the historic Sunniside area.

Nightclubs, however, are a relatively few and far between, with the likes of Liquid at Green terrace and Blu Bambu at Albion Place being the most central and most popular.

The Bridges Shopping Centre is one of the north's largest shopping centres with over 100 shops and the biggest Debenhams store outside of London . Elsewhere, there is The Galleries Shopping Centre, a well-established covered shopping centre, situated at the heart of Washington which has every store that you would expect in any major town centre.

If you are looking for ideas as to how to while-away a few hours at the weekend, Sunderland Museum is worth a trip. Whilst the Winter Gardens combines a museum and art gallery to create a stunning visitor attraction in the heart of the city centre. And the Empire Theatre is a grand Edwardian building that continues to attract the top West End productions to Sunderland . Or if you are in the mood for watching the latest Hollywood blockbuster, then head to the multiplex cinema.

Fitness freaks and sports fans are well provided for in Sunderland . Aside from being home to Premiership team Sunderland AFC, who ply their trade at the 48,500 seat Stadium of Light, Sunderland has a wide range of sporting facilities, including Silksworth Sports Complex which provides year-round facilities for dry-slope skiing and snowboarding, a new Olympic-sized swimming pool, and Sk8 City - a state of the art wheeled sports park for skateboarders, roller bladders and BMX'ers.

Main residential areas
The Riverside development is arguably the most popular and most desirable place to rent or buy in the city centre. Located on the site of the former Vaux Brewery, once the biggest employer in Sunderland, Riverside has over 1,000 modern apartments, penthouses and studio flats along with a number of new bars and cafes on the banks of the River Wear.

Out of town, Fulwell is the most affluent suburb of Sunderland, statistically being the least deprived of the Sunderland 's 25 wards, characterised by traditional Victorian large detached nineteenth-century houses and cottages.

If you're thinking of moving to the area, take a look at some of the current property available to buy or let in Sunderland.

Take a closer look
A picture is worth a thousand words. You can see some images from in and around Sunderland below.

Looking for local vacancies? See all current jobs in Sunderland or find out more information on the local area.